Apparatus for keeping accounts



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M. H. ROBERTS. APPARATUS FOR KEEPING ACCOUNTS.

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. M. H. vROBERTS. APPARATUS FOR KEEPING AGGOUNTS.

No. 549,212. Patented NOV. 5, 1895.

ANDREW B GRAHAM. PilOTOifTHQWASHINGTOM D C UNITED Y STATES PATENT OFFIC MILTON HENRY ROBERTS, OF OAKES, NORTH DAKOTA.

APPARATUS FOR KEEPING ACCOUNTS.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 549,212, dated November 5, 1895.

Application filed May 19, 1894. Serial No. 511,813. (No model) To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, MILTON HENRY ROB- ERTS, of Oakes, Dickey county, North Dakota, have invented certain Improvements in Apparatus for Keeping Accounts, of which the following is a specification.

Hy invention relates to improved apparatus for keeping store accounts, its object being to provide improved means by the use of which retail storekeepers may easily and accurately keep the accounts of their customers and have the statements of account at all times in such shape that upon the payment of one a full itemized statement and re ceipt to date can be given by merely adding the column of figures on one side of a small card and receipting the same.

My invention further consists in the construction and. combination hereinafter particularly described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming 'part of this specification, Figures 1 and 2 are isometric views of the two similar boxes used in my improved system of keeping accounts. Figs. 3, 4, and 5 are views of the small cards used in this system. Fig. 6 is a detail View of an end of one of the partitions used in forming compartments in the boxes. Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail elevation of the side of one of the boxes, and Fig. 8 is a detail plan view of a portion of one end of one of the boxes.

The main part of my improved apparatus is the small rectangular box A, open at the top and having its sides 3 intermediately punched with two horizontal rows of small holes 4, spaced evenly along the sides. The corresponding holes of each row are vertically connected by the slots 5, the edges of which slots are bent inwardly, thereby slightly separating them, so that the movable partitions 6, extending across the box vertically and transversely, may have their ends 7 fitted into these slots and be retained therein by the bent portions 8 of the ends of the partitions engaging with one edge of the slots. The opposite edges serve to hold the partitions from being backwardly withdrawn from such engagement. The number of the slots considerably exceeds that of the partitions, so that the compartments may be of various widths to suit the greater or less number of cards with names thereon having a common initial letter.

At each end of the box are the handles 9, one of which serves as acatch for the ends of the card-retaining or bail rods 10, which are hooked therein and are at their other ends doubly bent and hooked into the hole 11, suitably placed therefor in the opposite end of the box.

Along one side of the box is a double guide 12, adapted to interchangeably hold changeable cardboard slips 13, which maybe slipped into and withdrawn from said guideat pleas- Upon these slips are arranged the letters of the alphabet 14. to correspond with the compartments 15 in the box formed by the partitions 6.

The cards 16 are printed with account-forms, having on one side blanks for the insertion of the year, the number of the card, the name of the purchaser, the proprietor of the store, the city in which the store may be located, and below these column-blanks for the dates, articles sold, and cost of such articles, and on the opposite side blanks for the name of the purchaser, and below column-blanks similar to the ruling on the other side, but having the top line thereof headed Balance brought forward. These cards are of such size as to fit into the compartments 15 of the box.

In the use of this apparatus for keeping accounts the two boxes 17 and 18 are placed under the counter conveniently, as one would place the money-drawer. o will take, for example, the statement of Mr. Charles Howard, as shown on cards 19, 20, and 21, and it will be seen that he has run a comparatively large account. At the making of his first purchase the blank card was numbered 1,

headed with his name, and the date, f J anuary 1st, and the article, one buck-saw,

and the cost of the article, $1, entered in the corresponding ruled columns therefor, and the following purchases were similarly entered on this card. If he had closed his card after making only a number of purchases that would fillbut one side or a portion of the first card and had then paid the account, the amounts would have been footed up and the card would have been indorsed Received payment in full to date, 64-94., Roberts & Co. but if the number of his pur chases should more than fill one side of the card the amounts on the first side would be footed up at the bottom of the second side of the card and would be carried to a card headed in all respects similar to the first card, except that it would be numbered 2. The first card would then be placed in the second box 18, or, as it would be called when used, box No. 2, and the card No. 2 would be placed in box 17 or No. 1, and there would be entered on the first line below the heading the date, Balance brought forward, and the amount of same, so that if Mr. Charles Howard wished to settle his account at any time it would be only necessary to foot up the column on this side of the second card, when the total which he owes Roberts & 00. would be found, and upon the payment of the same the card would be indorsed as noted previously, for the statement closed, for example, on the first card. So it will be seen that with this apparatus box No. 1 always has the first card at the time of the settlement with Mr. Charles Howard, and Roberts & Co. would take outbox No. 1, and from it Mr. Howards card, and that would show that Mr. Howard has a card in box No. 2.

In the use of my improved apparatus the work of placing a charge 011 the cards takes no longer than it would take to place it on the day-book of the old system when the work with that system is just begun, and in this is practically all done.

Another advantage is that the customer sees his card every time that he is charged for an article, so that he may always know how much he is indebted to the Storekeeper and can have no cause to complain for running along account, saying that he did not get the articles.

I claim- 1. As an improved article of manufacture an apparatus for use in keeping accounts, comprising in combination the sheet metal boxes, having their sides vertically slotted at intervals, and the edges of the slots bent inward, and partitions having bent ends adapted to fit between the edges of the slot, said partitions forming compartments to receive statement cards.

2. As an improved article of manufacture, the box having its sides slotted vertically, the edges of the slots being inturned to form vertical guides, and the removable partitions having their ends bent to fit to said guides and forming compartments.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

MILTON HENRY ROBERTS.

\Vitnesses:

ALBERT A. ALLEN, E. G. BALDWIN. 

